Wesley eckert



(No Model.)

W. EGKERT.

SNAP HOOK.

No. 544,483. Patented Aug. 13, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

YVESLEY ECKERT, OF ELK POINT, SOUTH DAKOTA, ASSIGNOROF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES H. FREEMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

SNAP-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,483, dated August 13, 1895.

Application filed October 8, 1 894.

To all 1077/07 70 it may concern:

Be it known that I, WESLEY ECKERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elk Point, in the county of Union and State of South Dakota, have invented anew and use-. ful Improvement in Snap-Hooks,of which the following is a specification.

My object is to provide a snap-hook of generally improved construction whereby it may be readily fastened and unfastened and when fastened or hooked be proof against accidental unshipping.

My object is also to provide such a snaphook of a simple, durable, and comparatively inexpensive construction adapted to all purposes where snap-hooks may be'founddesirable.

In the drawings which for the purpose of illustration show my improvement applied to a harnesssnap, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the device opened; Fig. 2, a similar view of the same closed; Fig. 3, a detail perspective view of the latch or mousing, and Fig. 4 a perspective View of a harness-snap of modified construction.

A is a snap-hook provided with a strap-receiving loop t, shank s, and hook portion r. The hook portion 1" is recessed or, and preferably, bifurcated to present a slot 7'', which extends from a stop or shoulder r at the shank through the end of the bill.

B is a latch-piece in the form' of a C, or of approximately that shape, and fitting the slot r. The latch presents a part q having the same curve as the base of the hook a" and presenting a concave bearing-surface p, a part q describing the curve of the back of the hook, a stop or shoulder g and a mousing q 'presenting a concave bearing-surface o 19 and terminatingin a stop q. The opening g of the latch is of approximately the same size as the space between the free end or bill of the hook r and the shank s. The

latch B is pivotally mounted at an opening g upon a pinr which passes through the hook, as indicated. When the hook is closed, as indicated in Fig. 2, the latch is housed in the slot '1" and extends at its inner and outer edges flush with the bifurcated part of the .hook. When closed the shoulder g engages Serial No. 525,261. (No model.)

the stop 1*, whereby the latch can-be moved no farther in that direction. When opened the shoulder g on the latch is at the stop r whereby the turning of the latch is limited in that direction, and the opening g registers with the open end of the hook, as shown in Fig. 1. When opened the part q of the latch extends across the bifurcated part of the hook short of thebase of the latter.

In fastening the snap-hook to 'a ring, for example, the latter is passed into the hook through the opening g of the latch and drawn in the direction of the base of the hook,

whereby it engages the concave bearing-surfacep and turns the latch on its pivot to the position shown in Fig. 2. It will be impossible to turn the latch and unship the ring by any pressure which may be brought by the ring against the concave surface of the mousing, and the ring will thus be held with great security. To prevent too free movement of the latch in the slot r, I prefer to manufacture the hook of springy metal and topinch the bifurcated end thereof slightly, whereby the forks will hear at their inner surfaces yieldingly and with desired friction against the surfaces of the latch. The degree of friction should be slight, however, so as not to interfere materially with the ready opening of the hook when desired.

.In the preferred construction the hook A may be cast, while in the modification shown in Fig. 4 the hook portion is formedof a single length bent to the desired form and held by the pivot-pin r and a second pin x, which performs the function of the stop r The gist of my invention lies in the combination, with the hook, of a pivotal latch B, which, owing to its shape alone and without the use of a spring or the addition of any spring-catch mechanism,

- is locked'by pressure of the article to which it is attached in the direction of the base of the hook and'can only be unlocked by hand; and, obviously, the construction shown may be modified in many ways without departing from the spirit of my invention as thus defined. Snap-hooks constructed with my improvements may be employed in any connection where snap-hooks are desirable, and they may be of any size and shape which will best adapt them to the particular purpose. My improvement may be applied to various parts of a harness, as to the gag-runners, checkhooks, and terrets, whereby the straps or reins may be slipped into and out of their guides laterally instead of having to be passed through from one end; and my improved snaps may be employed as singletree-hooks to present particularly safe fastening means for the traces.

In the use of snap-hooks employing springs at the mousings it is found that the springs are apt to lose their tension or become disarranged or broken and thus greatly lessen the durability of the hook. Being Without springs, my improved snap-hook is free from the disadvantages attendant upon their use; and constructed as described it is particularly neat, strong, and durable.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A snap-hook comprising, in combination, the loop 25, shank portion 3, bifurcated hook portion 1' having the slot r and stop 7, C- shaped latch pivoted between its ends in the slot and presenting a bearing surfacep and concave bearing surface 19 at opposite sides of the pivot, and stops on the-latch, to engage the stop 7*, the forks of the hook portion bearing yieldingly against opposite sides of the latch, and the parts being constructed and combined to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

WESLEY EOKER'I. In presence of- ALONZO IIASSON, FRED H. IlAINEs. 

